Although it is often thought that people with ADHD must be skinny because they are hyperactive, this is often not the case. First, not all those with ADHD have gross hyperactivity – in other words, they don’t run, jump, get up and down, or move in noticeable ways that would burn a lot of energy. Some people with ADHD have a lot of fine motor movements like a slight tapping of feet or moving fingers. Others may display their hyperactivity with nervous tics, like rapid eye movements. Still others may have ADD, not ADHD, which means they have the hallmark symptoms of inattention and impulsivity, without the hyperactivity.
The impulsive nature of those with ADHD (or ADD) is what really leads to being overweight. Have you ever noticed that foods placed near cash registers or other key places in a grocery store or cafeteria or mini-mart are almost always convenience foods like candy bars, chips, and energy drinks? These products are high profit items – they don’t cost very much to produce, are shelf-stable for a long period of time so there isn’t a high risk of losing money on expired items, and they’re usually easy to eat “on-the-go”, which is appealing to our busy society. Even when trying very hard to avoid buying unhealthy foods, this last minute temptation can be even more challenging to avoid when you have ADHD and are impulsive.
Those with ADHD also need immediate gratification – waiting 20 minutes for long grain brown rice to boil is just so much harder than a package of white rice that can microwave in 3 minutes or less and be ready to eat. This need to have “what you want, when you want it” is a result of decreased dopamine activity in the brain, and is something that people with ADHD need to learn to control.
The decreased dopamine activity in the brain may be to blame for another nutrition challenge those with ADHD face. Low dopamine levels can cause the symptoms of ADHD, and can contribute towards depression. Eating sugar actually increases dopamine activity in the brain, which makes people feel better, especially those with ADHD. It is easy to see why studies have shown those with ADHD are more likely to drink sugar sweetened beverages and eat foods high in sugar! The problem is, the increased dopamine level is very short lived, and the high sugar intake leads to health problems like obesity.
The trick is learning how to stop this cycle of impulsive eating and eating or drinking sugar, all of which leads to weight gain and an overall feeling of poor health. High intake of processed and sugary foods usually means the healthier foods containing important nutrients like Vitamin D and Omega 3 fatty acids are not eaten.
Chapter 7 of “Nutrition Management for Children with ADHD” shares tips for improving food-related behaviors, and chapter 8 discusses the link between exercise and ADHD. The book is available on Amazon, Kindle, or here: https://www.createspace.com/7056720. For an individualized plan to manage your nutrition and weight, contact a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) near you for an appointment!
The impulsive nature of those with ADHD (or ADD) is what really leads to being overweight. Have you ever noticed that foods placed near cash registers or other key places in a grocery store or cafeteria or mini-mart are almost always convenience foods like candy bars, chips, and energy drinks? These products are high profit items – they don’t cost very much to produce, are shelf-stable for a long period of time so there isn’t a high risk of losing money on expired items, and they’re usually easy to eat “on-the-go”, which is appealing to our busy society. Even when trying very hard to avoid buying unhealthy foods, this last minute temptation can be even more challenging to avoid when you have ADHD and are impulsive.
Those with ADHD also need immediate gratification – waiting 20 minutes for long grain brown rice to boil is just so much harder than a package of white rice that can microwave in 3 minutes or less and be ready to eat. This need to have “what you want, when you want it” is a result of decreased dopamine activity in the brain, and is something that people with ADHD need to learn to control.
The decreased dopamine activity in the brain may be to blame for another nutrition challenge those with ADHD face. Low dopamine levels can cause the symptoms of ADHD, and can contribute towards depression. Eating sugar actually increases dopamine activity in the brain, which makes people feel better, especially those with ADHD. It is easy to see why studies have shown those with ADHD are more likely to drink sugar sweetened beverages and eat foods high in sugar! The problem is, the increased dopamine level is very short lived, and the high sugar intake leads to health problems like obesity.
The trick is learning how to stop this cycle of impulsive eating and eating or drinking sugar, all of which leads to weight gain and an overall feeling of poor health. High intake of processed and sugary foods usually means the healthier foods containing important nutrients like Vitamin D and Omega 3 fatty acids are not eaten.
Chapter 7 of “Nutrition Management for Children with ADHD” shares tips for improving food-related behaviors, and chapter 8 discusses the link between exercise and ADHD. The book is available on Amazon, Kindle, or here: https://www.createspace.com/7056720. For an individualized plan to manage your nutrition and weight, contact a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) near you for an appointment!